Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sought to get Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson to state whether she believes there is a difference between men and women.
However, he did not get an answer to his liking despite repeated attempts.
During a hearing on LGBT rights on Wednesday, Cruz asked, “Is there a difference between women and men?”
“What I can say here is the NCAA has rules in place. They’ve had rules in place for the last decade,” Robinson responded.
However, Cruz shot back, “Okay, I’m gonna try again. Do you believe there’s a difference between women and men? It’s a yes-no question, do you believe there’s a difference?”
Still, Robinson insisted, “I think that we’re talking about this case with the NCAA…”
“No, I’m asking a question: Do you believe there’s a difference between women and men? Most people could answer this very simply, I’m curious if you’re willing to do so,” Cruz interjected.
Watch the video below:
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in a Senate hearing on LGBTQ+ civil rights repeatedly asks witness Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, if there's a difference between women and men, then refuses to let her answer the question. pic.twitter.com/4fgTtVcuS0
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Robinson said there are “definitions related to sex.”
“I’m just trying to get a yes or no, I’m not trying to get a speech. Is there a difference between women and men?” Cruz tried again.
However, Robinson said, “I think that there are definitions for biological sex which is different from gender.”
The senator tried a different strategy as he asked, “Why do women’s sports exist? If you can’t define a difference between women and men, why not abolish women’s sports and just tell little girls to swim with little boys and see who wins?”
“Oh, I’m simply saying that sex is different from gender but I do believe that women’s sports have a great value,” Robinson responded. She added, “I think that there are so many positive benefits to sports.”
Still, Cruz pressed, “But why have a separate category for women? If there’s no difference between women and men, why have women’s sports?”
“I’m saying that there’s a difference between sex and gender and that the NCAA has rules in place which they have for the last decade related to participation,” Robinson said.
Cruz’s line of questioning referred to the debate over transgender athletes competing on sports teams that do not correspond to their biological sports.